“Aye. Iliana told me, ye randy bastard,” he snapped sharply. “As exhausted as she was, could ye not let her be for one wee night?” On that note, he whirled away and stomped across the great hall to the trestle tables, leaving Duncan staring after him in bewilderment.

“Me lady!” Elgin eyed her with some concern as Iliana approached. “Are ye feeling a’right this morn? Mayhap ye shouldna be up.”

“Thank you for your concern, Elgin, but I am fine. ’Twas just exhausted I was yester eve. I feel much better now,” she assured him, then offered an apologetic smile. “Actually, I am more concerned now with you and your feelings.”

“My feelings?” He appeared surprised.

“Aye. You made one of the finest meals it has been my pleasure to sit down to and I fear I made a poor show of appreciating it.”

“Oh.” He flushed with pleasure but shook his head. “There is no need to worry, me lady. I understood.”

“Nay. You worked very hard on the meal, Elgin, and it was lovely. In fact, I am now quite looking forward to this evening’s efforts. If they are half as good, ’twill be a great success.”

“Thank ye, me lady. ’Tis kind o’ ye to say so.” He hesitated briefly, then added, “Me lady, I did wonder if…”

Iliana raised her eyebrows at his hesitation, then prompted. “Aye?”

“Well…” He glanced down at his plaid, scratching absently at one of the many stains on it, then sighed. “Ebba was a’talkin’ yesterday about yer mother’s cook, and she was sayin’ that he had a…er…fine hat and an apron that helped to keep his clothes clean, and I was awonderin’—”

“You need not say another word,” Iliana assured him, noting for the first time that his plaid was so speckled with food that ’twas difficult to tell what colors had originally been used in the pattern. “We will purchase material to make a proper apron from the merchant as soon as he arrives. In the meantime, mayhap we can find something suitable.” Her gaze slid to the bloodstained bed linen hanging from the railing at the top of the stairs as she spoke and she grimaced. It had hung there since the wedding and she would be more than happy to have an excuse to remove it. Cutting out the stain, cutting up the rest, and making an apron out of it for the cook was as good an excuse as any.

“Aye,” she said determinedly. “We shall find something suitable this very day.”

“Thank ye, me lady.” Elgin grinned widely, then began backing toward the kitchen door. “Now ye best be settin’ yerself down an’ I’ll bring ye some nice pasties. Ye need to be keepin’ yer strength up.”